Adjustable coat hanger



May 5, 1953 v H. A. GoLDscHMIDT ET A1. 2,537,471

ADJUSTABLE COAT HANGER Filed Feb. 19, A1952 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1' vnr."v."1....'...r'1'1'11'1'1.1..."1 1.1.1.1.......1'11'1'1'1'1.111.111'.

2,637,471 ADJUSTABLE COAT HANGER 2 sHEETs-SHEET 2 H. A. GOLDSCH'MIDT ET AL May 5, 1953 Filed Feb. 19, 1952 lll/11.1111

Patented May 5, 1953 ADJUSTABLE COAT HANGER Herbert A. Goldschmidt and Peter J. Leverence, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 19, 1952, Serial No. 272,294

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wearing apparel hangers and has for an object to provide a hanger advantageous for use in the hanging, storing, etc., of coat and cloak types of garments, as well as nether garments, such as skirts, trousers and the like, and retaining the same in proper shape, and free of wrinkles, notwithstanding shifting or other movement of the hanger.

More importantly, it is an object of our inven tion to provide an apparel hanger whose length or overall size may be selectively changed, i. e., the hanger size adjusted; and when adjusted, positively retained in such adjusted size, thereby rendering the same properly adaptable for use in supporting garments of different sizes, and in some instances, garments of different designs.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparel or garment hanger of the indicated character, which is of durable, simple and strong construction, capable of being produced at a comparatively low cost as to its construction materials, fabrication and assembly of parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hanger whose manual adjustment to a desired or predetermined size, whereby to properly receive, support and retain shouldered garments, may be quickly and simply effected, and when effected, afford a rm, fixed and surface smooth supporting area for the garment, thus eliminating tearing hazards.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, advantages and meritorious teachings of our invention, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following detailed disclosure thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the forms of the invention presented herein are I precise and what are now considered to be the better modes of embodying its principles, but that other modifications and changes may be made in specific embodiments without departing from its essential features.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of our improved hanger in its retracted or non-extended position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, with one side thereof shown in vertical longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line A3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction in which the arrows point, with the tubular member in one of its rotated positions locking the same to the shank against sliding zmovement.

.Figure 4 a view similar to Figure 3, but wherein said tubular member is shown in another of its rotated positions unlocking the same to permit sliding on the shank.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through one side of the garment hanger, with the illustrated tubular member in one of its extended positions on its shank.

Figure 6 is a view like Figure 5, showing a modified form of device for locking the tubular member in longitudinally adjusted relation to its shank, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in perspective of the modified form of locking device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the invention comprises a body l having complemental downwardly inclined tubular open ended crosssectionally circular Shanks 2 integral with or otherwise xedly carried on its ends in longitudinally disposed and opposed relation, an upstanding substantially U-shaped collar or neck portion engaging flange 3 integral with or otherwise xedly mounted on its normally upper side, and a vertically disposed supporting hook 4, or the equivalent thereof, xed to and extending from the body intermediately of said flange.

The tubular Shanks 2 each have slots 5, of similar length, formed inA and disposed longitudinally of corresponding sides thereof opening onto their respective outer ends and terminating in like proximity to the ends of the body I. Like numbers of equi-spaced complemental pockets 5' are formed in said corresponding sides of the tubular Shanks 2 and are disposed at substantially to their slots 5 and open thereinto.

Cross-sectionally circularly shaped. tubular members 6, of corresponding form and size, are individually provided to the longitudinally opposed body carried Shanks 2. The cross-sectional sizes of these members are such that they snugly and telescopically engage over and receive, via their outer ends, the tubular shanks 2 therein.

The normally outer ends of the tubular members each have substantially right angularly disposed complemental garment shoulder engaging arms 1 formed thereon, the upper and outer portions of which are somewhat Venlarged and curved or rounded, as at 8, and contiguous with those of their respective members 6, as shownin Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The normally inner open ends of said members are preferably feathered, as at 9, for an obvious purpose.

In order that locking connection maybe selectively effected between the tubular members 6 and their telescopically engaged tubular Shanks 3 2, complemental pins ID are transversely slidably engaged in and through appropriate openings formed in the inner end portions of said members and through the slots of the adjacent shanks 2. Arcuate pieces Il are engaged with and secured to the inner ends of the locking pins and movably bear on adjacent side wall portions of the tubular Shanks whereby to anchor said pins (see Figures 3 and 4) while the opposite end portions thereof are extended beyond the outer sides of the members 6. Arcuate washers I2 are engaged over the pin outwardly extendable portions and bear on adjacent outer side portions of their respective tubular members 6; expansible coiled springs I3 being engaged over said outwardly extended portions of the locking pins and engaged in cupped retaining nuts lil screwthreadedly received on the appropriately treated ends I5 of the pins. It will thus be seen that under the .constant urge of their respective expansble coiled springs lf3., the 'locking npins it will be normally retained in the outward limits of their .slidable .mountings with the arcuate pieces ll in bearing vcontact with adjacent portions of the inner sides of the tubular Shanks 2, the purpose of which is hereinafter .more fully described.

To brace the telescopically engaged shanks 2 .and members 5 and provide greater supporting efficiency or stability thereto, kthe outer or free ends of cross-sectionally circularly shaped tele- ;scopically engaged tubes 1.6 and li are received and .secured in appropriate `pockets .formed in the inner faces of the lower portions of the shoulderengacing arms 'L It will be seen, in this conmention, that said telescopedlbraces span lthe distance between the .shoulder engaging arms '.l on the .outer ends of the members Consecuently, as and when the 'lenfrfth .of the garment hanger is increased -by outward sliding or the members .6 .on .their Shanks 2, .'so, too, will that of :said 'telelsccpec'l braces l5 .and Il] be increased, with .the result that the hanger vper se will be A.constantly braced.

lIf `desired, garment engaging .and supporting vhooks 1.8 may be xed to the inner sides of suitable portions of thearms I, .as shown .in Figure '2. Various `articles of apparel can be .engaged with and .supported on or between the same.

In use `of .our improved garment hanger., a :shouldered ear-ment is placed ,on the .same in the lusual manner. .Said .hanger may .-be varranged with the component .members thereof in their relative retracted relationship, as shown in 'Figures 1 and 2 :of the drawings. In such usage.. the .shouldered .or like .portions of .the garment will .be engaged over the body .shank .supported tubular members .6., braced by the .telescopically engaged tubes .l5 .and H, and the enlarged, curved fand/or rounded arms 'I will be in snug -and spacing contact therewith. The lcolla-r or `.neck portion .of the garment, if such is present, will lie snugly against and about the 4substantially U- shaped body carried ange 3,

If and when ,-it is desired to adjust the overall length of the hanger whereby to properly receive and support thereon a particular garment, the flocking vpins 11! of 'the telescopic'ally engaged shanks 2 and tubular `members 'E are engaged and rotated transversely thereof from the positions shown in Figure 3 to those shown in Figure 4. Thereby said pins will have been disengaged or removed from certain transversely disposed pockets 5' and aligned with the adjacent and communicating slots 5 in the Shanks. At such times, the tubular members can be slid longitudinally of or on their companionate Shanks until a particularly desired adjustment of the same has been eiected. Thereupon, the locking pins Ill are counterrotated and entered into the slots adjacent and communicating with the pockets 5' of said Shanks, securely locking their companionate tubular members in adjusted relation. Because of this described adjustability, it will be seen that the improved garment hanger is conveniently and satisfactorily usable for supporting garments of different sizes.

Coincidentally with the extending or retracting of the tubular members E in the manner above described, it will be seen that the telescopically engaged bracing tubes I6 and l'i will be likewise extended or retracted and will, at all times, provid-e effectual bracing to the garment engaged and supporting portions per se of the garment hanger.

In Figures 6 and 7 or" the drawings, we have shown a slightly mcdiiied form of locking device whereby the tubular members of the garment hanger Iare releasably retained in an extended or adjusted relationship to their particular body carried Shanks. Herein, solid cross-sectionally circular -s'hanks 2' are carried on the opposed ends of the garment han-ger body .1'. Each of said Shanks have transversely ldisposed pockets or seats le formed in their normally under side portions, preferably, in equi-spaced relation. Crosssectionally circularly shaped tubular members S are provided to each Vof rsaid shanks 2' and, as shown in Figure 6, are telescopically engaged therewith.

The outer ends vof the tubular members S" are provided with the enlarged, curved and/or Arounded garment shoulder engaging portions l 4and these are xedly engaged bythe outer and adjacent ends of telescopically engaged cross-sectionally Acircularly shaped bracing tubes 1.6" `and 'i1'. Also, if desired, lgarment 'engaging and supporting hooks i8' or the like, `may be affixed to appropriate portions of said shoulder engaging portions 1.

In order that the tubular 'members 6 may be locked 'to or upon their respective Shanks '2' in longitudinally adjusted positions, in the manner heretofore described in connection with Vthe :nrst presented embodiment of our invention, we 'provide a catch member '20, pivotally mounting the 'same between the upstanding opposite sides of a 'bearing bracket 2l, fixedly secured to an appropriate portion of each of the tubular members 6", `as is well shown in Figure '7. A coiled spring 22 is engaged with or about the catch pivot and one end vthereof has bearing contact with an adjacent portion of the particularly adjacent tubular member "6', while its `remaining end is angularly bent and engaged over a portion of the upper side and inner end of said catch 20, as indicated at 2'3. The normally inner end of this catch 20 is provided with a lip or bite 24, normally engaged in and through a slot '-25 formed in an appropriate portion of its carrying tubular member 6'. Thus, by depressing the Anormally vouter end of the spring pressed catch 22, lthis bite 24 `will Ibe moved outwardly lci the way 25 in the tubular member 6', and hence, out of engagement with a particularly engaged pocket or seat i9 'in the adjacent and/ or telescopically received shank 2.

To longitudinally adjust `the tubular members 6" for either increasing or decreasing the overall length or width of our garment henger, it is, thus, 'only lnecessxauy that 'the bite portion 24 of the catch provided to each of said tubular members 6' shall only be moved outwardly through its way 25 from engagement with a pocket I9 in the adjacent shank 2'; thereupon, to slide the tubular member or members E either inwardly or outwardly to the particularly desired or required position or positions. When such has been done, the spring pressed catch or catches are released and the bite or bite portions of the same passing through the way or ways of the tubular member 6 will engage with a particularly adjacent Seat i9 in the adjusted Shank or Shanks 2. Until readjustment of the hanger length is desired, the tubular members G will be firmly and securely retained against longitudinal sliding movement with relation to their particular shanks 2.

We desire to have it understood that our improved garment hanger may be made of any suitable form or kind of material, such as conditions or preference may dictate. For example, the hanger may be advantageously and economically fabricated from moldable ber, from metal, or from various forms of plastic materials.

We claim:

1. A garment hanger, comprising a body having relatively opposed tubular ,Shanks extended therefrom, tubular members telescopically re ceiving the opposed free portions of the shanks therein, said Shanks having longitudinal slots formed in certain of their Sides and pockets in said sides offset from said slots and communieating therewith, said tubular members being rotatable on the shanks telescopically received therein transversely of their longitudinal axes, and pins slidably engaged through portions of each of said tubular members and in and through the longitudinal slots in their respective shanks selectively enterable into said pockets upon sliding movement of the tubular members to predetermined positions on their respective Shanks and collective rotation of the members and pins transversely of their Shanks.

2. A garment hanger, comprising a body, relatively opposed and longitudinally disposed inclined tubular shanks xedly carried on said body,

each of said Shanks having longitudinally disposed slots formed in and extending throughout their lengths and pockets formed therein and disposed at substantially right angles to said slots and communicating therewith in spaced relation, tubular members telescopically receiving said tubular shanks therein, said tubular members being rotatable on the Shanks telescopically received therein transversely of their longitudinal axes, and spring thrust pins carried by each of said tubular members engaged in and through the slots of said shanks and movable, at times, therethrough, said pins, upon rotation with their respective tubular members being selectively engagable in the slot communicating pockets.

3. A garment hanger, comprising a body having relatively longitudinally opposed tubular Shanks each of which has a longitudinally disposed way therein extending toward its respective outer end and other and relatively angularly disposed ways therein openinginto said longitudinally disposed ways at intervals throughout their lengths, tubular members slidably receiving the Shanks therein rotatable on and co-axially about the same, and radially disposed outwardly spring thrust pins slidably mounted in portions of said tubular members, the inner ends of said pins extending into the tubular Shanks through their respective ways and having bearing engagement on and with adjacent portions of said Shanks, and said pins being movable through the longitudinal ways in their respective Shanks and enterable into Said angularly disposed ways in said Shanks upon rotation of the tubular members on the shanks in one direction, and re- PETER J. LEVERENCE.

References Cited in the 'lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,494,711 Kusher et al Jan. 17, 1950 2,504,562 Melcher Apr. 18, 1950 

